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Warsaw Parks Department is having two appraisals conducted that may allow them to purchase a facility for activities and programs, Park Superintendent Jon Garber told park board members Tuesday.
Garber and Activities Director Janelle Wilson discussed their request to purchase a building located at 420 Little League Drive at the city council's Dec. 4 meeting.
The city council approved the request for the parks department to look into two appraisals for the property.
The Warsaw Board of Works approved the appraisal payments at its Dec. 15 meeting.
The building is the former Fraternal Order of Police building in Boggs Industrial Park and is for sale for $90,000, Garber said. The 2,400-square-foot facility is adjacent to Mantis Skate Park.
The appraisal companies are Independent Appraisal Service, for $80 per hour for five to eight hours; and Paul Reith Appraisal Service, for $500 with 30 days to complete the appraisal.
The building currently is owned by J.P. Green, who is looking to sell the facility after the first of the year. The facility is carpeted and has restroom facilities.
The facility will compliment the Baker Youth Clubs and also serve special activities that are held at Mantis Park such as birthday parties, small group skate park rentals and meeting spaces for cake-decorating and flower-arranging classes, according to Wilson.
The facility also could house toddler programs and fine arts programs offered in the summer.
Also during the meeting, Mike Knepper, representing the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County, requested to pursue upgraded and safer volleyball equipment, padding and floor mounts for the Pete Thorn Youth Center.
He said the current floor mounting system is unsafe.
Knepper said when the upright standards are not in use, a brass locking plate will cover and fill the void where the upright is plugged into during use.
The volleyball equipment the club wishes to purchase includes a volleyball net system, wall rack, volleyball equipment carrier, adjustable referee stand, volleyball tudor and equipment totemaster totaling $5,670.
Garber said The Boys and Girls Club will be responsible for purchasing and installing the equipment.
The board also approved a maintenance agreement for Central Park between the city and the Warsaw Board of Parks and Recreation. The purpose of the agreement is to provide the maintenance of the flower beds and urns in Central Park, including fertilization, weed control, pest control, plant replacement, annuals and bulb planting.
The city will pay the contractor monthly based on itemized invoices by the contractor for work submitted at the rate of $20 per hour.
The payment will not exceed $12,000 per year or be less than $8,000 per year for the contractor unless approved by the city.
The board also approved officers for 2007. Officers re-elected were Park Board President Bill Baldwin, Vice President John Sadler, and park board members Steve Haines and Toby Sumpter.
School board representative Cathy Folk's term expires Dec. 31, and she will be replaced. The Warsaw School Board will appoint a new representative at its Jan. 8 meeting.
"I have enjoyed serving on the park board and I think we have a great park system," Folk said during the meeting.
Folk has served as the park board's school representative for eight years.
